Schedule Variance (Earned Value Analysis)

In project management, getting an early indication of problems is the silver bullet that allows the project manager to correct the problems before they start.

Schedule Variance, usually abbreviated as SV, is one of the fundamental outputs of the Earned Value Management System. It tells the project manager how far ahead or behind the project is at the point of analysis, usually right now.

Formula

SV = EV – PV

Where:

SV = Schedule Variance

EV = Earned Value

PV = Planned Value

All units are monetary (dollars, euros, etc.). See below for an explanation of each term.

Interpretation of Results

If SV is negative, the task is behind schedule.

If SV is zero, the task is on schedule

If SV is positive, the task is ahead of schedule.

For example,

SV = -$500 means the project is behind schedule.

SV = $0 means the project is right on schedule.

SV = $500 means the project is ahead of schedule.

Background

Schedule Variance represents the monetary value that the task is behind or ahead of schedule, relative to the task budget. For example, let’s say the task Build Fencehas a budget of $4,000 and the schedule variance is $1,000. This would represent a project that is significantly ahead of schedule.

Schedule variance must be calculated on a task by task basis and summed to determine the overall project’s schedule variance.

It must have a time point of reference, in other words, it is a “snapshot” at a certain point in time. Whenever the project is being worked on the schedule variance is changing. To put it another way, the project is getting more ahead or behind schedule as time goes on and as work goes on.

Related Earned Value Metrics

The schedule variance should be analyzed in conjunction with the cost variance (CV), which tells you how far over or under budget the project is.

SV and CV are positive: The project is ahead of schedule and under budget (hooray!)

SV is positive and CV is negative: The project is ahead of schedule but over budget. In other words, more tasks have been performed than were scheduled at this point, but the tasks that have been performed are over budget.

SV is negative and CV is positive: The project is under budget but behind schedule. In other words, less tasks have been performed than were scheduled at this point, but the tasks that have been performed are under budget.

SV and CV are negative: The project is behind schedule and over budget (boo!)

The Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is similar to SV but is relative to the task budget. It gives you an idea how far ahead or behind schedule the task is relative to the overall task budget. As you can imagine, a -$500 schedule variance is insignificant to a billion dollar oil platform project but quite significant to a $4,000 fence building project.

Schedule Baseline

In order to calculate the schedule variance, the project must initially be divided into tasks and each task must be assigned the following data:

Start and Finish Dates

Budget

This is called the schedule baseline, and it gives the project manager something to track against. Project scheduling is one of the fundamental aspects of project management.

Planned Value (PV)

Also known as Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled (BCWS), Planned Value is the amount of the task that is supposed to have been completed, in terms of the task budget. It is calculated from the project budget.

PV = Percent Complete (planned) x Task Budget

For example, if it’s Feb. 15 today, and the task is supposed to last from Feb. 10 to Feb. 20, it should be 50% complete. If the task budget is $4,000, PV = 50% x $4,000 = $2,000.

Earned Value (EV)

Also known as Budgeted Cost of Work Performed (BCWP), Earned Value is the amount of the task that is actually completed. It is also calculated from the project budget.

EV = Percent Complete (actual) x Task Budget

For example, if the actual percent complete is 75% and the task budget is $4,000, EV = 75% x $4,000 = $3,000.

Example

Let’s say we have a project with two tasks, building a fence and laying sod. The initial schedule baseline is:

The overall project schedule variance is positive $610, therefore the project is ahead of schedule. Even though the second task is behind schedule, the first task is ahead of schedule by a greater amount, therefore the project is in good shape overall.

About Bernie Roseke, P.Eng., PMP

Bernie Roseke, P.Eng., PMP, is the president of Roseke Engineering. As a bridge engineer and project manager, he manages projects ranging from small, local bridges to multi-million dollar projects. He is also the technical brains behind ProjectEngineer, the online project management system for engineers. He is a licensed professional engineer, certified project manager, and six sigma black belt. He lives in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with his wife and two kids.

Comments

There is an in error in the following results. Please read review the following.

“The overall project schedule variance is positive $610, therefore the project is ahead of schedule. Even though the first task is behind schedule, the second task is ahead of schedule by a greater amount, therefore the project is in good shape overall.”

BUT the results show and the correct interpretation of the results are:

“The overall project schedule variance is positive $610, therefore the project is ahead of schedule. Even though the SECOND task is behind schedule, the FIRST task is ahead of schedule by a greater amount, therefore the project is in good shape overall.”